An advisable handgun transaction?

C

Colt-45

Inactive
On one of the gun auction sites I bid on (and lost) a handgun. Later, I received an email from someone who said he had the same model handgun the he'd been thinking of selling. In reply to my emailed questions, he said he wasn't a gun dealer, he was in the military, but he did have a C&R FFL (the gun does not qualify as a curio or relic). I'm comfortable buying from a verifiable dealer who has a verifiable FFL and the ATF to keep him honest. I'm not so comfortable with this situation. Is a C&R FFL equally verifiable? Can I count on someone's being accountable to the ATF as a reliable guarantee I can trust this individual to send me the firearm after I send him a certified check?
 
If he's out-of-state, you cannot legally receive a gun from him. He has to ship it to a local FFL in your state and you get it from the FFL. If he is inside your state, meet hiim face-to-face.

Do not send him money and have him ship the gun to you.
 
All I can give is my personal opinion and what I'd do in your place. I would not buy from an individual period with anything but paypal or a credit card if possible. With these two methods you can usually dispute the charges and get your money back if things turn sour. As I've learned though, don't wait too long to dispute charges, 30 days should let you know if he's legit or not.
 
Use a USPS postal money order and send a copy of your FFLs information that he will provide you. The seller will need this to send the firearm to your FFL. Ask him for HIS FFL information so that your FFL can send them an original, signed in ink FFL information. Ask for a three day inspection period. When the firearm arrives at your FFL, inspect ASAP. If good, everybody is happy. If not then contact the seller and his FFL. If it IS a scam, the postal inspectors take a dim view of mail fraud. You can also obtain a USPS postal money order refund, within reasonable limits. I have done these transactions before. I usually write a credit card check to individuals also locally. That protects my purchase and allows me to dispute/reverse/cancel the transaction if it turns sour. Over the years, I haven't been bitten once yet. I have been ripped off by a FFL with a shop in his garage.
 
Thanks, all. Decided to pass on the deal because 1) too many complications, and 2) think I can find another pistol at a better price than he was asking if I just am a little more patient. (Not one of my strong suits...)
 
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